End buckle



July 1 1924. 1,499,747

J. c. NICHOLS END BUCKLE Filed July 28 192s f WQW Jan [I mi :515

JOHN G. Nronons, orsi-rEBoYeAN, wIsooNsIN.

END BUCKLE.

Application filed July 28, 1923. Serial No. 654,399.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. NIoHoLs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Sheboygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End Buckles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,.and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to harness connectors.

This application constitutes one of a series of applications filed by me having elements co-operating to form a harness without stitching.

In harnesses as previously constructed, it has been the practice to pass leather straps through metal rings or Ds and fold the strap back upon itself and stitch it in place. This obviously construction, as the stitchings frequently rotted or broke, and also was not satisfactory for the reason that it necessitated the cutting of the stitching when it was desired to remove the strap.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects and objects of such invention are to provide a harness connector which is so organized that it is'not necessary to stitch the strap after it has been passed through the connector, in which the metal portion adapted to engage a ring or other member is reinforced by the strap itself, in which means are provided which are integrally formed with the connector for removably retaining the free end of the strap and in which the free end of the strap is held in its engaged position by the action of the remaining portion of the strap.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view of the connector de tached from the strap.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector, with the strap shown in position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the hne 3--3 of Figure 2.

The connector comprises a frame work structure having side members 1 which are joined on what may be termed the upper side, by a pair of spaced bars 2 and 3, the bar 3 extending rearwardly of the apparatus and bar 2 being located intermediate resulted in a relatively weak- The side members'l are continued forwardly and are provided with converging rounded portions 4, which merge into a rearwardly directed hook 5. The side mem-. bers are further joined, on what may be termed their lower portion by means of transverse bars 6 and 7 spaced apart .and

located between the bars 2 and 3. The bar 7 is provided with a forwardly projecting prong 8, which is curved as indicated in Fig. 2 and is adapted to be passed through the apertured free end 9 of the strap.

If desired the side members may be cut away as shown in Figure 2 to make the device extremely light. Also it may be found expedient to locate the transverse bar 7 most closely adjacent to the lower portion of the side member 1 as shown in Fig. 2 so as to allow the relatively narrow side members to project upwardly therefrom and form in effect guiding ears for the strap.

In using the device the tongue 5 is hooked into the desired ring or D or similar mem her and the strap is threaded through the connector. The free end 9 of the strap, as stated, is apertured and is hooked over the prong 8 as may be seen in Figures 2 and 3. Thereafter the strap is passed over the lower transverse bar 6, around the end of the connector thus encircling the hook 5, beneath the transverse upper bar 2, and beneath the transverse upper bar 3. From this point the strap extends rearwardly from the device as indicated atlO.

It is to be noted that the strap reinforces the hook portion so that a pull upon the strap is not transmitted wholly to the hook in a manner tending to strain it or break entire deviceand the hook portion forms in effect a metallic shield for the looped portion of the strap without being called upon to carry the entire stress.

It is to be particularly noted structure a metal to metal joint is secured and the strap is not allowed to slide over in the metal portion back and forth during actual use thus avoidingrapid wear of the strap.

It is to be noted and will be seen from Fig. 2 that the intermediate portion 11 of the strap is pressed down upon the free end by the bars 2 and 3, thus aiding in'retaining the free end of the strap in the desired the ends of the connector and closely adjabpoistion.

cent the forward end.

It will further be noted that the device is it, but is transmitted substantially to the that by this so organized that it may be readily cast as a unitary structure and that it'may be made in an extremely rapid manner.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that it may be variously embodied and is therefore to be limited only as claimed.

I claim: 7

A harness connector comprising a body portion having parallel side bars, a hook extending upwardly and turned back and directed inwardly and located adjacent the forward end of said connector, a pair of transverse strap guide bars joining the upper portion of said parallel side bars, one of such transverse bars being located closely adjacent said hook, but spaced longitudinally therefrom, and the other of said bars being located at the rearmost end ol aid body portion, a pair of lower transverse bars arranged in spaced relative relation and located between and below said mentioned bars, and a forwardly and upwardly directed prong integrally formed with the rearmost of said last mentioned transverse bars and pointing towards said hook, whereby all of said bars are spaced apart longitudinally of the device.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Sheboygan in the county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin.

JOHN C. NICHOLS. 

